These
questions and the author's personal interpretations are likely to trigger
conversation.

The Questions

Answer
the following questionnaire by putting a True (T) or a False (F) after each
sentence.

(If you are hesitating
between T and F, put both).

A.I often study English,
at home, in a library, on the train.

B.I need English for my
work, to pass an exam, to get a job.

C.I don't like making
grammar mistakes when I speak English.

D.I began learning English
because my parents felt it was necessary for the future.

E.I love speaking English
with other learners of the same level.

F.I go to English
conversation classes because I simply want to, not because I have to.

G.I think my teachers
should force me to speak more in conversation class.

H.I would love to go on a
year-long world tour, even if I had little money.

I.If I don't speak in
conversation class, it is because the topic/task is bad.

J.I watch English-language
TV and films in English-even though I understand nothing!

K.I hate it when one
person does all the talking in conversation class.

L.Quite often, I am happy
just to listen to the teacher.

M.I often feel a little
stupid when I talk in conversation class.

N.I think the teacher is
what motivates a student most.

O.I prefer learning
grammar, vocabulary, etc to speaking English.

P.I wish I could go to a
conversation class every day instead of just twice a week.

Q.Basically, I think a
conversation class should be for practicing the grammar you have just learnt.

R.I regularly ask the
other students questions and comment on what they say in conversation class.

S.I am a woman.

Interpretation

A, E, F, H, J, P, R =
True. This, basically, indicates a self-motivated, hard-working learner. It
also indicates desire to socialize, to meet other races and cultures. This is
what language is for. The perfect student: A talker and a worker!

B, D, G, I, K, N = True.
There is a strong sense of being "obliged" to learn, which is not
self-motivation. Not a crime, but the learner must want to achieve for himself.
Also, this type of learner blames his performance on others/external factors.
This may not be the ideal ingredient for a good communicator/worker.

C, O = True. This can
mean that you are a perfectionist. You pay attention to formal detail. Can be
good, but it can also be an obstacle to communication. An anxious talker.

G, I, K, L, N = True.
This implies a degree of passiveness. If you want to talk, don't think about
it-act! This learner could also lack self-motivation. A sporadic talker.

M = True. It happens
everybody at the beginning. But you must get over this after a few classes. You
will

Q = True. This is a big
issue. But how can you talk about the world with a few set phrases? You may be
a traditional learner expecting a traditional class. Remember, the ultimate aim
of English is to communicate.

S = True. Bingo! It is
said that women work harder-at languages too. They also miss less classes than
men.

As with everything
related to motivation, it is impossible to be categorical, ie seemingly
negative factors can end up motivating some learners. Also, some of the above
statements may apply to several interpretations. Nothing is black and white.